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The Navigator

Cool stuff to do, plus jokes for you

By RICK GERSHMAN
Published April 21, 2006

Sometimes there are so many great events, I can't decide what to spotlight.

And then there are weeks like this, when I have to jump on pretty much anything that happens to come along.

For example:

Rick: "Hey, boss, coming out on DVD this week: Girls Gone Wild 17: "Hey, Isn't That Your Sister?"

Suze: "Sorry, nice try."

It's not that we lack for good events this week; I just can't figure out how to mine more than a single joke from any of 'em.

Hmmm. Then again, maybe a single joke for a single event would do - as long as we included enough events.

That gives me an idea. Here's my list of 10 cool things to do this week. Well, almost 10, except I cheated, as usual.

1. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat continues at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (through Sunday):

Because Andrew Lloyd Webber couldn't come up with a grand score for Clem and His Kinda Shabby Faded Gray Overalls.

2. Nine local bands perform in the "Grayum Fest" at Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery (Saturday):

We don't know anything about the lineup, but with names like Arm the Poor, My Hostage and Small Talk Death, we know this. Your mom will hate it.

3. Fall Out Boy plays at the St. Pete Times Forum (Thursday):

The emo rockers - who blew up nationally after signing with the Tampa label Fueled By Ramen - took their band name from one of the most obscure characters on The Simpsons.

Because calling themselves "Homer Simpson" probably would have gotten them sued.

3. It's Pooh Days at the Florida Aquarium (today and every Friday through May):

Yes, Pooh. As in "Winnie the." But I only mention it because I enjoy saying the word "Pooh."

4. American Dreamz opens in theaters, starring Dennis Quaid as a Dubya-inspired president (today):

In 2004's The Alamo, the actor portrayed Sam Houston, a hard-drinking politician who went on to govern Texas. So Quaid should be well-versed in the role.

5. The straight-to-DVD release Dr. Doolittle 3, with Kyla Pratt replacing her "dad" Eddie Murphy as the doc, arrives on store shelves (Tuesday):

Because these days, Murphy no longer bothers to star in his own lame family films.

6. John Heffron, winner of the NBC show Last Comic Standing, plays the first of four nights at the Tampa Improv in Centro Ybor (Thursday):

So, lotsa luck, Quaid.

8. Orlando's own Wesley Snipes stars in the DVD release of The Detonator (Tuesday):

You don't remember The Detonator's release in theaters? Or anything else Wesley's made in the last five years? Yeah, neither do we.

9. Pooh.

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

10. Grateful Dead cover band Uncle John's Band plays its usual weekly night show at north Tampa's Skipper's Smokehouse (Thursday):

Because there's no chance anyone was torn between whether to attend this or Fall Out Boy.

Rick Gershman can be reached at rgershman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3431. His Times blog, The Ill Literate, is at www.sptimes.com/blogs/tampaarts.

[Last modified April 20, 2006, 12:21:35]